Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01251 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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3		-	LCO 1 of 4
	3	+	LCO No. 4290 1 of 38
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5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 1251
	5	+	General Assembly Governor's Bill No. 1251
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 4290
	8	+
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	Request of the Governor Pursuant
	15	+	to Joint Rule 9
7	16
8	17
9	18
10	19
11	20
12		-	AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS
13		-	CONCERNING A DRIVER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PERSONS WITH
14		-	DISABILITIES, LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF MEDICAID STATE
15		-	PLAN AMENDMENTS AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING TIMELY
16		-	WHEELCHAIR REPAIR STANDARDS.
	21	+	AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR’S RECOMMENDATIONS
	22	+	FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
17	23		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
18	24		Assembly convened:
19	25
20	26		Section 1. Section 14-11b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
21	27		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
22	28		(a) There shall be within the Department of [Aging and Disability 3
23	29		Services] Motor Vehicles a unit for the purpose of evaluating and 4
24	30		training persons with disabilities in the operation of motor vehicles. 5
25	31		There shall be assigned to the driver training unit for persons with 6
26	32		disabilities such staff as is necessary for the orderly administration of 7
27	33		the driver training program for persons with disabilities. The personnel 8
28	34		assigned to the driver training unit for persons with disabilities shall, 9
29	35		while engaged in the evaluation, [or] instruction or examination of a 10
30	36		person with disabilities, have the authority and immunities with respect 11
31	37		to such activities as are granted under the general statutes to motor 12
32		-	vehicle inspectors. ~~Said~~ Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may permit a 13
	38	+	vehicle inspectors. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may permit a 13
33	39		person whose license has been withdrawn as a result of a condition that 14
34		-	makes such person eligible for evaluation and training under this 15
35		-	section to operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by personnel 16 Substitute Bill No. 1251
	40	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
36	41
37	42
38		-	LCO 2 of 4
39	43
	44	+	LCO No. 4290 2 of 38
	45	+
	46	+	makes such person eligible for evaluation and training under this 15
	47	+	section to operate a motor vehicle while accompanied by personnel 16
40	48		assigned to the driver training unit for persons with disabilities. [When 17
41	49		a person with disabilities has successfully completed the driver training 18
42	50		program for persons with disabilities, the Department of Aging and 19
43	51		Disability Services shall certify such completion in writing to the 20
44	52		Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and shall recommend any license 21
45	53		restrictions or limitations to be placed on the license of such person. The 22
46	54		Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may accept such certification in lieu of 23
47	55		the driving skills portion of the examination prescribed under 24
48	56		subsection (e) of section 14-36. If such person with disabilities has met 25
49	57		all other requirements for obtaining a license, the Commissioner of 26
50	58		Motor Vehicles shall issue a license with such restrictions recommended 27
51	59		by the Department of Aging and Disability Services.] 28
52	60		(b) Any resident of this state who has a serious physical or mental 29
53	61		disability which does not render the resident incapable of operating a 30
54	62		motor vehicle and who must utilize special equipment in order to 31
55	63		operate a motor vehicle and who cannot obtain instruction in the 32
56	64		operation of a motor vehicle through any alternate program, including, 33
57	65		but not limited to, other state, federal or privately operated drivers' 34
58	66		schools shall be eligible for instruction under the Department of [Aging 35
59	67		and Disability Services] Motor Vehicles driver training program for 36
60	68		persons with disabilities. 37
61		-	Sec. 2. Section 17b-8 of the general statutes is amended by adding 38
62		-	subsection (e) as follows (Effective July 1, 2025): 39
63		-	(NEW) (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this 40
64		-	section, the Commissioner of Social Services shall submit any Medicaid 41
65		-	state plan amendment not subject to the legislative approval process of 42
66		-	subsection (a) of this section to the joint standing committees of the 43
67		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 44
68		-	appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and human services 45
69		-	not later than thirty days prior to the commissioner's submission of such 46
70		-	amendment for federal approval. Said committees may schedule a 47
71		-	hearing on such state plan amendment in accordance with subsection 48
72		-	(a) of this section not later than thirty days after receipt of such 49 Substitute Bill No. 1251
	69	+	Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 17b-104 of the general statutes is 38
	70	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 39
	71	+	2025): 40
	72	+	(b) On July 1, 2007, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall 41
	73	+	increase the payment standards over those of the previous fiscal year 42
	74	+	under the state-administered general assistance program by the 43
	75	+	percentage increase, if any, in the most recent calendar year average in 44
	76	+	the consumer price index for urban consumers over the average for the 45
	77	+	previous calendar year, provided the annual increase, if any, shall not 46
	78	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
73	79
74	80
75		-	LCO 3 of 4
76	81
77		-	amendment. If the committees schedule such hearing, the commissioner 50
78		-	shall not submit such state plan amendment for federal approval unless 51
79		-	the committees vote to approve the state plan amendment in accordance 52
80		-	with subsection (a) of this section. If the committees approve such state 53
81		-	plan amendment with amendments, the commissioner shall submit 54
82		-	such state plan amendment as amended by the committees. 55
83		-	Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) The Commissioner of Social 56
84		-	Services shall submit any Medicaid state plan amendment subject to the 57
85		-	provisions of subsection (e) of section 17b-8 of the general statutes, as 58
86		-	amended by this act, for review to the Council on Medical Assistance 59
87		-	Program Oversight, established pursuant to section 17b-28 of the 60
88		-	general statutes, not later than thirty days prior to the commissioner's 61
89		-	submission of such amendment for federal approval. 62
90		-	Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective November 1, 2025) (a) As used in this section, 63
91		-	(1) "authorized wheelchair dealer", "timely repair" and "wheelchair" 64
92		-	have the same meanings as provided in section 42-337 of the general 65
93		-	statutes; and (2) "systemic noncompliance" means the failure by an 66
94		-	authorized wheelchair dealer to meet timely repair requirements in 67
95		-	accordance with section 42-338 of the general statutes for more than five 68
96		-	per cent of repair requests in a thirty-day period. 69
97		-	(b) On and after November 1, 2025, it shall be an unfair or deceptive 70
98		-	act or practice pursuant to subsection (a) of section 42-110b of the 71
99		-	general statutes for an authorized wheelchair dealer whose repair 72
100		-	record meets the definition of systemic noncompliance to fail to comply 73
101		-	with timely repair requirements in accordance with section 42-338 of the 74
102		-	general statutes. 75
	82	+	LCO No. 4290 3 of 38
	83	+
	84	+	exceed five per cent, except that the payment standards for the fiscal 47
	85	+	years ending June 30, 2010, June 30, 2011, June 30, 2012, June 30, 2013, 48
	86	+	June 30, 2016, June 30, 2017, June 30, 2018, June 30, 2019, June 30, 2020, 49
	87	+	[and] June 30, 2021, June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, shall not be 50
	88	+	increased. 51
	89	+	Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of section 17b-106 of the general statutes is 52
	90	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 53
	91	+	2025): 54
	92	+	(a) On July 1, 1989, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall 55
	93	+	increase the adult payment standards over those of the previous fiscal 56
	94	+	year for the state supplement to the federal Supplemental Security 57
	95	+	Income Program by the percentage increase, if any, in the most recent 58
	96	+	calendar year average in the consumer price index for urban consumers 59
	97	+	over the average for the previous calendar year, provided the annual 60
	98	+	increase, if any, shall not exceed five per cent, except that the adult 61
	99	+	payment standards for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1993, June 30, 62
	100	+	1994, June 30, 1995, June 30, 1996, June 30, 1997, June 30, 1998, June 30, 63
	101	+	1999, June 30, 2000, June 30, 2001, June 30, 2002, June 30, 2003, June 30, 64
	102	+	2004, June 30, 2005, June 30, 2006, June 30, 2007, June 30, 2008, June 30, 65
	103	+	2009, June 30, 2010, June 30, 2011, June 30, 2012, June 30, 2013, June 30, 66
	104	+	2016, June 30, 2017, June 30, 2018, June 30, 2019, June 30, 2020, [and] June 67
	105	+	30, 2021, June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, shall not be increased. 68
	106	+	Effective October 1, 1991, the coverage of excess utility costs for 69
	107	+	recipients of the state supplement to the federal Supplemental Security 70
	108	+	Income Program is eliminated. Notwithstanding the provisions of this 71
	109	+	section, the commissioner may increase the personal needs allowance 72
	110	+	component of the adult payment standard as necessary to meet federal 73
	111	+	maintenance of effort requirements. 74
	112	+	Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 17b-112g of the general statutes is 75
	113	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 76
	114	+	2025): 77
	115	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	116	+
	117	+
	118	+
	119	+	LCO No. 4290 4 of 38
	120	+
	121	+	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall offer immediate 78
	122	+	diversion assistance designed to prevent certain families who are 79
	123	+	applying for monthly temporary family assistance from needing such 80
	124	+	assistance. Diversion assistance shall be offered to families that (1) upon 81
	125	+	initial assessment are determined eligible for temporary family 82
	126	+	assistance, (2) demonstrate a short-term need that cannot be met with 83
	127	+	current or anticipated family resources, and (3) with the provision of a 84
	128	+	service or short-term benefit, would be prevented from needing 85
	129	+	monthly temporary family assistance. [Within resources available to the 86
	130	+	Department of Social Services, a person who requests diversion 87
	131	+	assistance on the basis of being a victim of domestic violence, as defined 88
	132	+	in section 17b-112a, shall be deemed to satisfy subdivision (2) of this 89
	133	+	subsection and shall not be subject to the requirements of subdivision 90
	134	+	(3) of this subsection. In determining whether the family of such a victim 91
	135	+	of domestic violence satisfies the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 92
	136	+	subsection and the appropriate amount of diversion assistance to 93
	137	+	provide, the commissioner shall not include as a member of the family 94
	138	+	the spouse, domestic partner or other household member credibly 95
	139	+	accused of domestic violence by such victim, nor shall the commissioner 96
	140	+	count the income or assets of such a spouse, domestic partner or other 97
	141	+	household member. For purposes of this subsection, allegations of 98
	142	+	domestic violence may be substantiated by the commissioner pursuant 99
	143	+	to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17b-112a.] 100
	144	+	Sec. 5. Section 17b-191 of the general statutes is repealed and the 101
	145	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 102
	146	+	(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17b-190, 17b-195 and 103
	147	+	17b-196, the Commissioner of Social Services shall operate a state-104
	148	+	administered general assistance program in accordance with this section 105
	149	+	and sections 17b-131, 17b-193, 17b-194, 17b-197 and 17b-198. 106
	150	+	Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, on and after 107
	151	+	October 1, 2003, no town shall be reimbursed by the state for any general 108
	152	+	assistance medical benefits incurred after September 30, 2003, and on 109
	153	+	and after March 1, 2004, no town shall be reimbursed by the state for 110
	154	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	155	+
	156	+
	157	+
	158	+	LCO No. 4290 5 of 38
	159	+
	160	+	any general assistance cash benefits or general assistance program 111
	161	+	administrative costs incurred after February 29, 2004. 112
	162	+	(b) The state-administered general assistance program shall provide 113
	163	+	cash assistance of (1) two hundred dollars per month for an 114
	164	+	unemployable person upon determination of such person's 115
	165	+	unemployability; (2) two hundred dollars per month for a transitional 116
	166	+	person who is required to pay for shelter; and (3) fifty dollars per month 117
	167	+	for a transitional person who is not required to pay for shelter. The 118
	168	+	standard of assistance paid for individuals residing in rated boarding 119
	169	+	facilities shall remain at the level in effect on August 31, 2003. No person 120
	170	+	shall be eligible for cash assistance under the program if eligible for cash 121
	171	+	assistance under any other state or federal cash assistance program. The 122
	172	+	standards of assistance set forth in this subsection shall be subject to 123
	173	+	annual increases, as described in subsection (b) of section 17b-104, as 124
	174	+	amended by this act. 125
	175	+	(c) To be eligible for cash assistance under the program, a person shall 126
	176	+	(1) be (A) eighteen years of age or older; (B) a minor found by a court to 127
	177	+	be emancipated pursuant to section 46b-150; or (C) under eighteen years 128
	178	+	of age and the commissioner determines good cause for such person's 129
	179	+	eligibility, and (2) not have assets exceeding five hundred dollars or, if 130
	180	+	such person is married, such person and his or her spouse shall not have 131
	181	+	assets exceeding one thousand dollars. In determining eligibility, the 132
	182	+	commissioner shall not consider as income (A) Aid and Attendance 133
	183	+	pension benefits granted to a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, or the 134
	184	+	surviving spouse of such veteran; and (B) any tax refund or advance 135
	185	+	payment with respect to a refundable credit to the same extent such 136
	186	+	refund or advance payment would be disregarded under 26 USC 6409 137
	187	+	in any federal program or state or local program financed in whole or in 138
	188	+	part with federal funds. No person who is a substance abuser and 139
	189	+	refuses or fails to enter available, appropriate treatment shall be eligible 140
	190	+	for cash assistance under the program until such person enters 141
	191	+	treatment. No person whose benefits from the temporary family 142
	192	+	assistance program have terminated as a result of time-limited benefits 143
	193	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	194	+
	195	+
	196	+
	197	+	LCO No. 4290 6 of 38
	198	+
	199	+	or for failure to comply with a program requirement shall be eligible for 144
	200	+	cash assistance under the program. 145
	201	+	(d) Prior to or upon discontinuance of assistance, a person previously 146
	202	+	determined to be a transitional person may petition the commissioner 147
	203	+	to review the determination of his or her status. In such review, the 148
	204	+	commissioner shall consider factors, including, but not limited to: (1) 149
	205	+	Age; (2) education; (3) vocational training; (4) mental and physical 150
	206	+	health; and (5) employment history and shall make a determination of 151
	207	+	such person's ability to obtain gainful employment. 152
	208	+	[(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or section 153
	209	+	17b-194, a victim of domestic violence, as defined in section 17b-112a, 154
	210	+	who is not eligible for diversion assistance under the provisions of 155
	211	+	section 17b-112g, shall be eligible for a one-time assistance payment 156
	212	+	under the state-administered general assistance program within 157
	213	+	resources available to the Department of Social Services. Such payment 158
	214	+	shall be equivalent to that which such victim would be entitled to 159
	215	+	receive as diversion assistance if such victim and his or her family, if 160
	216	+	any, were eligible for diversion assistance. In determining whether and 161
	217	+	in what amount a victim of domestic violence and his or her family are 162
	218	+	eligible for a one-time assistance payment pursuant to this subsection, 163
	219	+	the commissioner shall not include as a member of such victim's family 164
	220	+	the spouse, domestic partner or other household member credibly 165
	221	+	accused of domestic violence by such victim, nor shall the commissioner 166
	222	+	count the income or assets of such a spouse, domestic partner or other 167
	223	+	household member. For purposes of this subsection, allegations of 168
	224	+	domestic violence may be substantiated by the commissioner pursuant 169
	225	+	to the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17b-112a, and "family" has 170
	226	+	the same meaning as used in section 17b-112, except as otherwise 171
	227	+	provided in this subsection.] 172
	228	+	Sec. 6. Section 17b-278l of the general statutes is repealed and the 173
	229	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 174
	230	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	231	+
	232	+
	233	+
	234	+	LCO No. 4290 7 of 38
	235	+
	236	+	(a) (1) As used in this section, "bariatric surgery" means surgical 175
	237	+	changes to the digestive system to help a patient with obesity to lose 176
	238	+	weight; 177
	239	+	(2) "Body mass index" means the number calculated by dividing an 178
	240	+	individual's weight in kilograms by the individual's height in meters 179
	241	+	squared; 180
	242	+	(3) "Medical services" means (A) prescription drugs approved by the 181
	243	+	federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obesity on 182
	244	+	an outpatient basis for individuals with type 2 diabetes and prescription 183
	245	+	drugs approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration on an 184
	246	+	outpatient basis for the treatment of a comorbid condition for 185
	247	+	individuals with obesity, subject to prior authorization and only after 186
	248	+	step therapy when clinically appropriate, and (B) nutritional counseling 187
	249	+	provided by a registered dietitian-nutritionist certified pursuant to 188
	250	+	section 20-206n; 189
	251	+	(4) "Severe obesity" means a body mass index that is: 190
	252	+	(A) Greater than forty; or 191
	253	+	(B) Thirty-five or more if an individual has been diagnosed with a 192
	254	+	comorbid disease or condition, including, but not limited to, a 193
	255	+	cardiopulmonary condition, diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea; and 194
	256	+	(5) "Obesity" means a body mass index of thirty or higher. 195
	257	+	(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall [provide medical 196
	258	+	assistance] amend the Medicaid state plan and the state plan for the 197
	259	+	Children's Health Insurance Program to implement the provisions of 198
	260	+	this section and provide coverage under the Medicaid program, in 199
	261	+	accordance with federal law, for (1) bariatric surgery and related 200
	262	+	medical services for Medicaid and HUSKY B beneficiaries with severe 201
	263	+	obesity, and (2) medical services for Medicaid and HUSKY B 202
	264	+	beneficiaries with a body mass index greater than thirty-five, provided 203
	265	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	266	+
	267	+
	268	+
	269	+	LCO No. 4290 8 of 38
	270	+
	271	+	such beneficiaries otherwise meet conditions set by the Centers for 204
	272	+	Medicare and Medicaid Services for such surgery and medical services. 205
	273	+	If necessary, the commissioner may amend the Medicaid state plan and 206
	274	+	the state plan for the Children's Health Insurance Program to implement 207
	275	+	the provisions of this section. 208
	276	+	(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of section 17b-209
	277	+	274f, any step therapy that may be required by the Commissioner of 210
	278	+	Social Services pursuant to the provisions of this section may be for a 211
	279	+	period of time not longer than one hundred eighty days. 212
	280	+	Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 17b-244 of the general statutes is 213
	281	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 214
	282	+	2025): 215
	283	+	(a) The room and board component of the rates to be paid by the state 216
	284	+	to private facilities and facilities operated by regional education service 217
	285	+	centers which are licensed to provide residential care pursuant to 218
	286	+	section 17a-227, but not certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid 219
	287	+	program as intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual 220
	288	+	disabilities, shall be determined annually by the Commissioner of Social 221
	289	+	Services, except that rates effective April 30, 1989, shall remain in effect 222
	290	+	through October 31, 1989. Any facility with real property other than 223
	291	+	land placed in service prior to July 1, 1991, shall, for the fiscal year 224
	292	+	ending June 30, 1995, receive a rate of return on real property equal to 225
	293	+	the average of the rates of return applied to real property other than land 226
	294	+	placed in service for the five years preceding July 1, 1993. For the fiscal 227
	295	+	year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, the rate of 228
	296	+	return on real property for property items shall be revised every five 229
	297	+	years. The commissioner shall, upon submission of a request by such 230
	298	+	facility, allow actual debt service, comprised of principal and interest, 231
	299	+	on the loan or loans in lieu of property costs allowed pursuant to section 232
	300	+	17-313b-5 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, whether 233
	301	+	actual debt service is higher or lower than such allowed property costs, 234
	302	+	provided such debt service terms and amounts are reasonable in 235
	303	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	304	+
	305	+
	306	+
	307	+	LCO No. 4290 9 of 38
	308	+
	309	+	relation to the useful life and the base value of the property. In the case 236
	310	+	of facilities financed through the Connecticut Housing Finance 237
	311	+	Authority, the commissioner shall allow actual debt service, comprised 238
	312	+	of principal, interest and a reasonable repair and replacement reserve 239
	313	+	on the loan or loans in lieu of property costs allowed pursuant to section 240
	314	+	17-313b-5 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, whether 241
	315	+	actual debt service is higher or lower than such allowed property costs, 242
	316	+	provided such debt service terms and amounts are determined by the 243
	317	+	commissioner at the time the loan is entered into to be reasonable in 244
	318	+	relation to the useful life and base value of the property. The 245
	319	+	commissioner may allow fees associated with mortgage refinancing 246
	320	+	provided such refinancing will result in state reimbursement savings, 247
	321	+	after comparing costs over the terms of the existing proposed loans. For 248
	322	+	the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, the inflation factor used to 249
	323	+	determine rates shall be one-half of the gross national product 250
	324	+	percentage increase for the period between the midpoint of the cost year 251
	325	+	through the midpoint of the rate year. For fiscal year ending June 30, 252
	326	+	1993, the inflation factor used to determine rates shall be two-thirds of 253
	327	+	the gross national product percentage increase from the midpoint of the 254
	328	+	cost year to the midpoint of the rate year. For the fiscal years ending 255
	329	+	June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997, no inflation factor shall be applied in 256
	330	+	determining rates. The Commissioner of Social Services shall prescribe 257
	331	+	uniform forms on which such facilities shall report their costs. Such rates 258
	332	+	shall be determined on the basis of a reasonable payment for necessary 259
	333	+	services. Any increase in grants, gifts, fund-raising or endowment 260
	334	+	income used for the payment of operating costs by a private facility in 261
	335	+	the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, shall be excluded by the 262
	336	+	commissioner from the income of the facility in determining the rates to 263
	337	+	be paid to the facility for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, provided 264
	338	+	any operating costs funded by such increase shall not obligate the state 265
	339	+	to increase expenditures in subsequent fiscal years. Nothing contained 266
	340	+	in this section shall authorize a payment by the state to any such facility 267
	341	+	in excess of the charges made by the facility for comparable services to 268
	342	+	the general public. The service component of the rates to be paid by the 269
	343	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	344	+
	345	+
	346	+
	347	+	LCO No. 4290 10 of 38
	348	+
	349	+	state to private facilities and facilities operated by regional education 270
	350	+	service centers which are licensed to provide residential care pursuant 271
	351	+	to section 17a-227, but not certified to participate in the Title XIX 272
	352	+	Medicaid programs as intermediate care facilities for individuals with 273
	353	+	intellectual disabilities, shall be determined annually by the 274
	354	+	Commissioner of Developmental Services in accordance with section 275
	355	+	17b-244a. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, no facility shall receive 276
	356	+	a rate that is more than two per cent greater than the rate in effect for 277
	357	+	the facility on June 30, 2007, except any facility that would have been 278
	358	+	issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2007, due to interim rate status or 279
	359	+	agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective 280
	360	+	July 1, 2007. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, no facility shall 281
	361	+	receive a rate that is more than two per cent greater than the rate in effect 282
	362	+	for the facility on June 30, 2008, except any facility that would have been 283
	363	+	issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2008, due to interim rate status or 284
	364	+	agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective 285
	365	+	July 1, 2008. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2011, 286
	366	+	rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2009, shall remain in effect 287
	367	+	until June 30, 2011, except that (1) the rate paid to a facility may be higher 288
	368	+	than the rate paid to the facility for the period ending June 30, 2009, if a 289
	369	+	capital improvement required by the Commissioner of Developmental 290
	370	+	Services for the health or safety of the residents was made to the facility 291
	371	+	during the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, or June 30, 2011, and (2) any 292
	372	+	facility that would have been issued a lower rate for the fiscal year 293
	373	+	ending June 30, 2010, or June 30, 2011, due to interim rate status or 294
	374	+	agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate. For the 295
	375	+	fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, rates in effect for the period ending June 296
	376	+	30, 2011, shall remain in effect until June 30, 2012, except that (A) the 297
	377	+	rate paid to a facility may be higher than the rate paid to the facility for 298
	378	+	the period ending June 30, 2011, if a capital improvement required by 299
	379	+	the Commissioner of Developmental Services for the health or safety of 300
	380	+	the residents was made to the facility during the fiscal year ending June 301
	381	+	30, 2012, and (B) any facility that would have been issued a lower rate 302
	382	+	for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, due to interim rate status or 303
	383	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	384	+
	385	+
	386	+
	387	+	LCO No. 4290 11 of 38
	388	+
	389	+	agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate. Any 304
	390	+	facility that has a significant decrease in land and building costs shall 305
	391	+	receive a reduced rate to reflect such decrease in land and building costs. 306
	392	+	The rate paid to a facility may be increased if a capital improvement 307
	393	+	approved by the Department of Developmental Services, in consultation 308
	394	+	with the Department of Social Services, for the health or safety of the 309
	395	+	residents was made to the facility during the fiscal year ending June 30, 310
	396	+	2014, or June 30, 2015, only to the extent such increases are within 311
	397	+	available appropriations. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, and 312
	398	+	June 30, 2017, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the period ending 313
	399	+	June 30, 2015, except the rate paid to a facility may be higher than the 314
	400	+	rate paid to the facility for the period ending June 30, 2015, if a capital 315
	401	+	improvement approved by the Department of Developmental Services, 316
	402	+	in consultation with the Department of Social Services, for the health or 317
	403	+	safety of the residents was made to the facility during the fiscal year 318
	404	+	ending June 30, 2016, or June 30, 2017, to the extent such rate increases 319
	405	+	are within available appropriations. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 320
	406	+	2016, and June 30, 2017, and each succeeding fiscal year, any facility that 321
	407	+	would have been issued a lower rate, due to interim rate status, a change 322
	408	+	in allowable fair rent or agreement with the department, shall be issued 323
	409	+	such lower rate. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, and June 30, 324
	410	+	2019, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the period ending June 30, 325
	411	+	2017, except the rate paid to a facility may be higher than the rate paid 326
	412	+	to the facility for the period ending June 30, 2017, if a capital 327
	413	+	improvement approved by the Department of Developmental Services, 328
	414	+	in consultation with the Department of Social Services, for the health or 329
	415	+	safety of the residents was made to the facility during the fiscal year 330
	416	+	ending June 30, 2018, or June 30, 2019, to the extent such rate increases 331
	417	+	are within available appropriations. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 332
	418	+	2020, and June 30, 2021, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the fiscal 333
	419	+	year ending June 30, 2019, except the rate paid to a facility may be higher 334
	420	+	than the rate paid to the facility for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, 335
	421	+	if a capital improvement approved by the Department of 336
	422	+	Developmental Services, in consultation with the Department of Social 337
	423	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	424	+
	425	+
	426	+
	427	+	LCO No. 4290 12 of 38
	428	+
	429	+	Services, for the health or safety of the residents was made to the facility 338
	430	+	during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, or June 30, 2021, to the extent 339
	431	+	such rate increases are within available appropriations. For the fiscal 340
	432	+	years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, rates shall be based upon 341
	433	+	rates in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, inflated by the 342
	434	+	gross domestic product deflator applicable to each rate year, except the 343
	435	+	commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and within 344
	436	+	available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to facilities 345
	437	+	which have documented fair rent additions placed in service in the cost 346
	438	+	report years ending September 30, 2020, and September 30, 2021, that 347
	439	+	are not otherwise included in rates issued, or if a rate adjustment for a 348
	440	+	capital improvement approved by the Department of Developmental 349
	441	+	Services, in consultation with the Department of Social Services, for the 350
	442	+	health or safety of the residents was made to the facility during the fiscal 351
	443	+	year ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023. For the fiscal year ending 352
	444	+	June 30, 2024, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the fiscal year 353
	445	+	ending June 30, 2023, except the rate paid to a facility may be higher 354
	446	+	than the rate paid to the facility for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, 355
	447	+	if a capital improvement approved by the Department of 356
	448	+	Developmental Services, in consultation with the Department of Social 357
	449	+	Services, for the health or safety of the residents was made to the facility 358
	450	+	during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, to the extent such rate 359
	451	+	increases are within available appropriations. For the fiscal years ending 360
	452	+	June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, rates shall not exceed those in effect for 361
	453	+	the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, except the rate paid to a facility may 362
	454	+	be higher than the rate paid to the facility for the fiscal year ending June 363
	455	+	30, 2025, if a capital improvement approved by the Department of 364
	456	+	Developmental Services, in consultation with the Department of Social 365
	457	+	Services, for the health or safety of the residents was made to the facility 366
	458	+	during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, to the extent 367
	459	+	such rate increases are within available appropriations. 368
	460	+	Sec. 8. (Effective July 1, 2025) For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, 369
	461	+	and June 30, 2027, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of 370
	462	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	463	+
	464	+
	465	+
	466	+	LCO No. 4290 13 of 38
	467	+
	468	+	section 17b-244 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and 371
	469	+	subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of section 17b-340 of the general statutes, 372
	470	+	as amended by this act, or any other provision of title 17 or 17b of the 373
	471	+	general statutes, or regulations adopted thereunder, the state rates of 374
	472	+	payment in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, for residential 375
	473	+	care homes, community living arrangements and community 376
	474	+	companion homes that receive the flat rate for residential services under 377
	475	+	section 17-311-54 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies shall 378
	476	+	remain in effect. 379
	477	+	Sec. 9. Subdivision (1) of subsection (h) of section 17b-340 of the 380
	478	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 381
	479	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 382
	480	+	(h) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, any intermediate care 383
	481	+	facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities with an operating 384
	482	+	cost component of its rate in excess of one hundred forty per cent of the 385
	483	+	median of operating cost components of rates in effect January 1, 1992, 386
	484	+	shall not receive an operating cost component increase. For the fiscal 387
	485	+	year ending June 30, 1993, any intermediate care facility for individuals 388
	486	+	with intellectual disabilities with an operating cost component of its rate 389
	487	+	that is less than one hundred forty per cent of the median of operating 390
	488	+	cost components of rates in effect January 1, 1992, shall have an 391
	489	+	allowance for real wage growth equal to thirty per cent of the increase 392
	490	+	determined in accordance with subsection (q) of section 17-311-52 of the 393
	491	+	regulations of Connecticut state agencies, provided such operating cost 394
	492	+	component shall not exceed one hundred forty per cent of the median 395
	493	+	of operating cost components in effect January 1, 1992. Any facility with 396
	494	+	real property other than land placed in service prior to October 1, 1991, 397
	495	+	shall, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, receive a rate of return on 398
	496	+	real property equal to the average of the rates of return applied to real 399
	497	+	property other than land placed in service for the five years preceding 400
	498	+	October 1, 1993. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any 401
	499	+	succeeding fiscal year, the rate of return on real property for property 402
	500	+	items shall be revised every five years. The commissioner shall, upon 403
	501	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	502	+
	503	+
	504	+
	505	+	LCO No. 4290 14 of 38
	506	+
	507	+	submission of a request, allow actual debt service, comprised of 404
	508	+	principal and interest, in excess of property costs allowed pursuant to 405
	509	+	section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, 406
	510	+	provided such debt service terms and amounts are reasonable in 407
	511	+	relation to the useful life and the base value of the property. For the fiscal 408
	512	+	year ending June 30, 1995, and any succeeding fiscal year, the inflation 409
	513	+	adjustment made in accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 410
	514	+	of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies shall not be applied to 411
	515	+	real property costs. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any 412
	516	+	succeeding fiscal year, the allowance for real wage growth, as 413
	517	+	determined in accordance with subsection (q) of section 17-311-52 of the 414
	518	+	regulations of Connecticut state agencies, shall not be applied. For the 415
	519	+	fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, no rate 416
	520	+	shall exceed three hundred seventy-five dollars per day unless the 417
	521	+	commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of 418
	522	+	Developmental Services, determines after a review of program and 419
	523	+	management costs, that a rate in excess of this amount is necessary for 420
	524	+	care and treatment of facility residents. For the fiscal year ending June 421
	525	+	30, 2002, rate period, the Commissioner of Social Services shall increase 422
	526	+	the inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with subsection 423
	527	+	(p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies 424
	528	+	to update allowable fiscal year 2000 costs to include a three and one-half 425
	529	+	per cent inflation factor. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, rate 426
	530	+	period, the commissioner shall increase the inflation adjustment for 427
	531	+	rates made in accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 of the 428
	532	+	regulations of Connecticut state agencies to update allowable fiscal year 429
	533	+	2001 costs to include a one and one-half per cent inflation factor, except 430
	534	+	that such increase shall be effective November 1, 2002, and such facility 431
	535	+	rate in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, shall be paid for 432
	536	+	services provided until October 31, 2002, except any facility that would 433
	537	+	have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2002, than for the fiscal 434
	538	+	year ending June 30, 2002, due to interim rate status or agreement with 435
	539	+	the department shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2002, and 436
	540	+	have such rate updated effective November 1, 2002, in accordance with 437
	541	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	542	+
	543	+
	544	+
	545	+	LCO No. 4290 15 of 38
	546	+
	547	+	applicable statutes and regulations. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 438
	548	+	2004, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2003, shall remain in 439
	549	+	effect, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate 440
	550	+	effective July 1, 2003, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, due 441
	551	+	to interim rate status or agreement with the department shall be issued 442
	552	+	such lower rate effective July 1, 2003. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 443
	553	+	2005, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2004, shall remain in 444
	554	+	effect until September 30, 2004. Effective October 1, 2004, each facility 445
	555	+	shall receive a rate that is five per cent greater than the rate in effect 446
	556	+	September 30, 2004. Effective upon receipt of all the necessary federal 447
	557	+	approvals to secure federal financial participation matching funds 448
	558	+	associated with the rate increase provided in subdivision (4) of 449
	559	+	subsection (f) of this section, but in no event earlier than October 1, 2005, 450
	560	+	and provided the user fee imposed under section 17b-320 is required to 451
	561	+	be collected, each facility shall receive a rate that is four per cent more 452
	562	+	than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year, except any 453
	563	+	facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective October 1, 454
	564	+	2005, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, due to interim rate 455
	565	+	status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate 456
	566	+	effective October 1, 2005. Such rate increase shall remain in effect unless: 457
	567	+	(A) The federal financial participation matching funds associated with 458
	568	+	the rate increase are no longer available; or (B) the user fee created 459
	569	+	pursuant to section 17b-320 is not in effect. For the fiscal year ending 460
	570	+	June 30, 2007, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall 461
	571	+	remain in effect until September 30, 2006, except any facility that would 462
	572	+	have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2006, than for the fiscal 463
	573	+	year ending June 30, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with 464
	574	+	the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2006. 465
	575	+	Effective October 1, 2006, no facility shall receive a rate that is more than 466
	576	+	three per cent greater than the rate in effect for the facility on September 467
	577	+	30, 2006, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate 468
	578	+	effective October 1, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with 469
	579	+	the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective October 1, 2006. 470
	580	+	For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, each facility shall receive a rate 471
	581	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	582	+
	583	+
	584	+
	585	+	LCO No. 4290 16 of 38
	586	+
	587	+	that is two and nine-tenths per cent greater than the rate in effect for the 472
	588	+	period ending June 30, 2007, except any facility that would have been 473
	589	+	issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2007, than for the rate period ending 474
	590	+	June 30, 2007, due to interim rate status, or agreement with the 475
	591	+	department, shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2007. For the 476
	592	+	fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, rates in effect for the period ending June 477
	593	+	30, 2008, shall remain in effect until June 30, 2009, except any facility that 478
	594	+	would have been issued a lower rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 479
	595	+	2009, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall 480
	596	+	be issued such lower rate. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, and 481
	597	+	June 30, 2011, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2009, shall 482
	598	+	remain in effect until June 30, 2011, except any facility that would have 483
	599	+	been issued a lower rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, or the 484
	600	+	fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, due to interim rate status or agreement 485
	601	+	with the department, shall be issued such lower rate. For the fiscal year 486
	602	+	ending June 30, 2012, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2011, 487
	603	+	shall remain in effect until June 30, 2012, except any facility that would 488
	604	+	have been issued a lower rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, 489
	605	+	due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall be 490
	606	+	issued such lower rate. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2014, and 491
	607	+	June 30, 2015, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the period ending 492
	608	+	June 30, 2013, except the rate paid to a facility may be higher than the 493
	609	+	rate paid to the facility for the period ending June 30, 2013, if a capital 494
	610	+	improvement approved by the Department of Developmental Services, 495
	611	+	in consultation with the Department of Social Services, for the health or 496
	612	+	safety of the residents was made to the facility during the fiscal year 497
	613	+	ending June 30, 2014, or June 30, 2015, to the extent such rate increases 498
	614	+	are within available appropriations. Any facility that would have been 499
	615	+	issued a lower rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, or the fiscal 500
	616	+	year ending June 30, 2015, due to interim rate status or agreement with 501
	617	+	the department, shall be issued such lower rate. For the fiscal years 502
	618	+	ending June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017, rates shall not exceed those in 503
	619	+	effect for the period ending June 30, 2015, except the rate paid to a 504
	620	+	facility may be higher than the rate paid to the facility for the period 505
	621	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	622	+
	623	+
	624	+
	625	+	LCO No. 4290 17 of 38
	626	+
	627	+	ending June 30, 2015, if a capital improvement approved by the 506
	628	+	Department of Developmental Services, in consultation with the 507
	629	+	Department of Social Services, for the health or safety of the residents 508
	630	+	was made to the facility during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, or 509
	631	+	June 30, 2017, to the extent such rate increases are within available 510
	632	+	appropriations. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, and June 30, 511
	633	+	2017, and each succeeding fiscal year, any facility that would have been 512
	634	+	issued a lower rate, due to interim rate status, a change in allowable fair 513
	635	+	rent or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate. 514
	636	+	For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, and June 30, 2019, rates shall 515
	637	+	not exceed those in effect for the period ending June 30, 2017, except the 516
	638	+	rate paid to a facility may be higher than the rate paid to the facility for 517
	639	+	the period ending June 30, 2017, if a capital improvement approved by 518
	640	+	the Department of Developmental Services, in consultation with the 519
	641	+	Department of Social Services, for the health or safety of the residents 520
	642	+	was made to the facility during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, or 521
	643	+	June 30, 2019, only to the extent such rate increases are within available 522
	644	+	appropriations. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2020, and June 30, 523
	645	+	2021, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the fiscal year ending June 524
	646	+	30, 2019, except the rate paid to a facility may be higher than the rate 525
	647	+	paid to the facility for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, if a capital 526
	648	+	improvement approved by the Department of Developmental Services, 527
	649	+	in consultation with the Department of Social Services, for the health or 528
	650	+	safety of the residents was made to the facility during the fiscal year 529
	651	+	ending June 30, 2020, or June 30, 2021, only to the extent such rate 530
	652	+	increases are within available appropriations. For the fiscal year ending 531
	653	+	June 30, 2022, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the fiscal year 532
	654	+	ending June 30, 2021, except the commissioner may, in the 533
	655	+	commissioner's discretion and within available appropriations, provide 534
	656	+	pro rata fair rent increases to facilities that have documented fair rent 535
	657	+	additions placed in service in the cost report year ending September 30, 536
	658	+	2020, that are not otherwise included in rates issued. For the fiscal year 537
	659	+	ending June 30, 2023, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the fiscal 538
	660	+	year ending June 30, 2022, except the commissioner may, in the 539
	661	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	662	+
	663	+
	664	+
	665	+	LCO No. 4290 18 of 38
	666	+
	667	+	commissioner's discretion and within available appropriations, provide 540
	668	+	pro rata fair rent increases to facilities which have documented fair rent 541
	669	+	additions placed in service in the cost report year ending September 30, 542
	670	+	2021, that are not otherwise included in rates issued. For the fiscal years 543
	671	+	ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, a facility may receive a rate 544
	672	+	increase for a capital improvement approved by the Department of 545
	673	+	Developmental Services, in consultation with the Department of Social 546
	674	+	Services, for the health or safety of the residents during the fiscal year 547
	675	+	ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 2023, only to the extent such rate 548
	676	+	increases are within available appropriations. There shall be no increase 549
	677	+	to rates based on inflation or any inflationary factor for the fiscal years 550
	678	+	ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023. Notwithstanding any other 551
	679	+	provisions of this chapter, any subsequent increase to allowable 552
	680	+	operating costs, excluding fair rent, shall be inflated by the gross 553
	681	+	domestic product deflator when funding is specifically appropriated for 554
	682	+	such purposes in the enacted budget. The rate of inflation shall be 555
	683	+	computed by comparing the most recent rate year to the average of the 556
	684	+	gross domestic product deflator for the previous four fiscal quarters 557
	685	+	ending March thirty-first. Any increase to rates based on inflation shall 558
	686	+	be applied prior to the application of any other budget adjustment 559
	687	+	factors that may impact such rates. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 560
	688	+	2024, the department shall determine facility rates based upon 2022 cost 561
	689	+	report filings subject to the provisions of this section, adjusted to reflect 562
	690	+	any rate increases provided after the cost report year ending June 30, 563
	691	+	2022, and with the addition of a two per cent adjustment factor. No 564
	692	+	facility shall receive a rate less than the rate in effect for the fiscal year 565
	693	+	ending June 30, 2023. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the 566
	694	+	minimum per diem, per bed rate shall remain at five hundred one 567
	695	+	dollars for a residential facility licensed pursuant to section 17a-227 and 568
	696	+	certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid program as an 569
	697	+	intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disability. 570
	698	+	There shall be no increase to rates based on any inflationary factor for 571
	699	+	the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 572
	700	+	2024, and each subsequent fiscal year, the commissioner may, in the 573
	701	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	702	+
	703	+
	704	+
	705	+	LCO No. 4290 19 of 38
	706	+
	707	+	commissioner's discretion and within available appropriations, provide 574
	708	+	pro rata fair rent increases to facilities that have documented fair rent 575
	709	+	additions placed in service in the cost report years that are not otherwise 576
	710	+	included in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the 577
	711	+	department shall determine facility rates based upon 2023 cost report 578
	712	+	filings subject to the provisions of this section, adjusted to reflect any 579
	713	+	rate increases provided after the cost report ending June 30, 2023. A 580
	714	+	facility may receive a rate that is less than the rate in effect for the fiscal 581
	715	+	year ending June 30, 2024, but shall not receive a rate less than the 582
	716	+	minimum per diem, per bed rate. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 583
	717	+	2025, the minimum per diem, per bed rate shall remain at five hundred 584
	718	+	one dollars for a residential facility licensed pursuant to section 17a-227 585
	719	+	and certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid program as an 586
	720	+	intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disability. 587
	721	+	There shall be no increase to rates based on any inflationary factor for 588
	722	+	the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 589
	723	+	2026, the department shall determine facility rates based upon 2024 cost 590
	724	+	report filings subject to the provisions of this section, adjusted to reflect 591
	725	+	any rate increases provided after the cost report ending June 30, 2024. 592
	726	+	For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, there shall be no minimum per 593
	727	+	diem, per bed rate for a residential facility licensed pursuant to section 594
	728	+	17a-227 and certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid program 595
	729	+	as an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual 596
	730	+	disability. There shall be no increase to rates based on any inflationary 597
	731	+	factor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. For the fiscal year ending 598
	732	+	June 30, 2027, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the fiscal year 599
	733	+	ending June 30, 2026, except the commissioner may, in the 600
	734	+	commissioner's discretion and within available appropriations, provide 601
	735	+	pro rata fair rent increases to facilities that have documented fair rent 602
	736	+	additions placed in service in the cost report year ending September 30, 603
	737	+	2025, that are not otherwise included in rates issued. For the fiscal years 604
	738	+	ending June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025, a facility may receive a rate 605
	739	+	increase for a capital improvement approved by the Department of 606
	740	+	Developmental Services, in consultation with the Department of Social 607
	741	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	742	+
	743	+
	744	+
	745	+	LCO No. 4290 20 of 38
	746	+
	747	+	Services, for the health or safety of the residents during the fiscal year 608
	748	+	ending June 30, 2024, or June 30, 2025, only to the extent such rate 609
	749	+	increases are within available appropriations. For the fiscal years ending 610
	750	+	June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, a facility may receive a rate increase for 611
	751	+	a capital improvement approved by the Department of Developmental 612
	752	+	Services, in consultation with the Department of Social Services, for the 613
	753	+	health or safety of the residents during the fiscal year ending June 30, 614
	754	+	2026, or June 30, 2027, only to the extent such rate increases are within 615
	755	+	available appropriations. Any facility that has a significant decrease in 616
	756	+	land and building costs shall receive a reduced rate to reflect such 617
	757	+	decrease in land and building costs. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 618
	758	+	2012, June 30, 2013, June 30, 2014, June 30, 2015, June 30, 2016, June 30, 619
	759	+	2017, June 30, 2018, June 30, 2019, June 30, 2020, June 30, 2021, June 30, 620
	760	+	2022, June 30, 2023, June 30, 2024, [and] June 30, 2025, June 30, 2026, and 621
	761	+	June 30, 2027, the Commissioner of Social Services may provide fair rent 622
	762	+	increases to any facility that has undergone a material change in 623
	763	+	circumstances related to fair rent and has an approved certificate of need 624
	764	+	pursuant to section 17b-352, 17b-353, 17b-354 or 17b-355. 625
	765	+	Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Commissioner of 626
	766	+	Social Services may, within available appropriations, increase or 627
	767	+	decrease rates issued to intermediate care facilities for individuals with 628
	768	+	intellectual disabilities to reflect a reduction in available appropriations 629
	769	+	as provided in subsection (a) of this section. For the fiscal years ending 630
	770	+	June 30, 2014, and June 30, 2015, the commissioner shall not consider 631
	771	+	rebasing in determining rates. Notwithstanding the provisions of this 632
	772	+	subsection, effective July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, the commissioner 633
	773	+	shall, within available appropriations, increase rates for the purpose of 634
	774	+	wage and benefit enhancements for employees of intermediate care 635
	775	+	facilities. Facilities that receive a rate adjustment for the purpose of wage 636
	776	+	and benefit enhancements but do not provide increases in employee 637
	777	+	salaries as described in this subsection on or before July 31, 2021, and 638
	778	+	July 31, 2022, respectively, may be subject to a rate decrease in the same 639
	779	+	amount as the adjustment by the commissioner. 640
	780	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	781	+
	782	+
	783	+
	784	+	LCO No. 4290 21 of 38
	785	+
	786	+	Sec. 10. Subsection (i) of section 17b-340 of the general statutes is 641
	787	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 642
	788	+	2025): 643
	789	+	(i) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, any residential care home 644
	790	+	with an operating cost component of its rate in excess of one hundred 645
	791	+	thirty per cent of the median of operating cost components of rates in 646
	792	+	effect January 1, 1992, shall not receive an operating cost component 647
	793	+	increase. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, any residential care 648
	794	+	home with an operating cost component of its rate that is less than one 649
	795	+	hundred thirty per cent of the median of operating cost components of 650
	796	+	rates in effect January 1, 1992, shall have an allowance for real wage 651
	797	+	growth equal to sixty-five per cent of the increase determined in 652
	798	+	accordance with subsection (q) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of 653
	799	+	Connecticut state agencies, provided such operating cost component 654
	800	+	shall not exceed one hundred thirty per cent of the median of operating 655
	801	+	cost components in effect January 1, 1992. Beginning with the fiscal year 656
	802	+	ending June 30, 1993, for the purpose of determining allowable fair rent, 657
	803	+	a residential care home with allowable fair rent less than the twenty-658
	804	+	fifth percentile of the state-wide allowable fair rent shall be reimbursed 659
	805	+	as having allowable fair rent equal to the twenty-fifth percentile of the 660
	806	+	state-wide allowable fair rent. Beginning with the fiscal year ending 661
	807	+	June 30, 1997, a residential care home with allowable fair rent less than 662
	808	+	three dollars and ten cents per day shall be reimbursed as having 663
	809	+	allowable fair rent equal to three dollars and ten cents per day. Property 664
	810	+	additions placed in service during the cost year ending September 30, 665
	811	+	1996, or any succeeding cost year shall receive a fair rent allowance for 666
	812	+	such additions as an addition to three dollars and ten cents per day if 667
	813	+	the fair rent for the facility for property placed in service prior to 668
	814	+	September 30, 1995, is less than or equal to three dollars and ten cents 669
	815	+	per day. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, a 670
	816	+	residential care home shall be reimbursed the greater of the allowable 671
	817	+	accumulated fair rent reimbursement associated with real property 672
	818	+	additions and land as calculated on a per day basis or three dollars and 673
	819	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	820	+
	821	+
	822	+
	823	+	LCO No. 4290 22 of 38
	824	+
	825	+	ten cents per day if the allowable reimbursement associated with real 674
	826	+	property additions and land is less than three dollars and ten cents per 675
	827	+	day. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal 676
	828	+	year, the allowance for real wage growth, as determined in accordance 677
	829	+	with subsection (q) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut 678
	830	+	state agencies, shall not be applied. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 679
	831	+	1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, the inflation adjustment made in 680
	832	+	accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of 681
	833	+	Connecticut state agencies shall not be applied to real property costs. 682
	834	+	Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, minimum allowable 683
	835	+	patient days for rate computation purposes for a residential care home 684
	836	+	with twenty-five beds or less shall be eighty-five per cent of licensed 685
	837	+	capacity. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, for the 686
	838	+	purposes of determining the allowable salary of an administrator of a 687
	839	+	residential care home with sixty beds or less the department shall revise 688
	840	+	the allowable base salary to thirty-seven thousand dollars to be annually 689
	841	+	inflated thereafter in accordance with section 17-311-52 of the 690
	842	+	regulations of Connecticut state agencies. The rates for the fiscal year 691
	843	+	ending June 30, 2002, shall be based upon the increased allowable salary 692
	844	+	of an administrator, regardless of whether such amount was expended 693
	845	+	in the 2000 cost report period upon which the rates are based. Beginning 694
	846	+	with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and until the fiscal year ending 695
	847	+	June 30, 2009, inclusive, the inflation adjustment for rates made in 696
	848	+	accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of 697
	849	+	Connecticut state agencies shall be increased by two per cent, and 698
	850	+	beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, the inflation 699
	851	+	adjustment for rates made in accordance with subsection (c) of said 700
	852	+	section shall be increased by one per cent. Beginning with the fiscal year 701
	853	+	ending June 30, 1999, for the purpose of determining the allowable 702
	854	+	salary of a related party, the department shall revise the maximum 703
	855	+	salary to twenty-seven thousand eight hundred fifty-six dollars to be 704
	856	+	annually inflated thereafter in accordance with section 17-311-52 of the 705
	857	+	regulations of Connecticut state agencies and beginning with the fiscal 706
	858	+	year ending June 30, 2001, such allowable salary shall be computed on 707
	859	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	860	+
	861	+
	862	+
	863	+	LCO No. 4290 23 of 38
	864	+
	865	+	an hourly basis and the maximum number of hours allowed for a related 708
	866	+	party other than the proprietor shall be increased from forty hours to 709
	867	+	forty-eight hours per work week. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 710
	868	+	2005, each facility shall receive a rate that is two and one-quarter per 711
	869	+	cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year, 712
	870	+	except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective 713
	871	+	July 1, 2004, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, due to interim 714
	872	+	rate status or agreement with the department shall be issued such lower 715
	873	+	rate effective July 1, 2004. Effective upon receipt of all the necessary 716
	874	+	federal approvals to secure federal financial participation matching 717
	875	+	funds associated with the rate increase provided in subdivision (4) of 718
	876	+	subsection (f) of this section, but in no event earlier than October 1, 2005, 719
	877	+	and provided the user fee imposed under section 17b-320 is required to 720
	878	+	be collected, each facility shall receive a rate that is determined in 721
	879	+	accordance with applicable law and subject to appropriations, except 722
	880	+	any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective October 723
	881	+	1, 2005, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, due to interim rate 724
	882	+	status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate 725
	883	+	effective October 1, 2005. Such rate increase shall remain in effect unless: 726
	884	+	(1) The federal financial participation matching funds associated with 727
	885	+	the rate increase are no longer available; or (2) the user fee created 728
	886	+	pursuant to section 17b-320 is not in effect. For the fiscal year ending 729
	887	+	June 30, 2007, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall 730
	888	+	remain in effect until September 30, 2006, except any facility that would 731
	889	+	have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2006, than for the fiscal 732
	890	+	year ending June 30, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with 733
	891	+	the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2006. 734
	892	+	Effective October 1, 2006, no facility shall receive a rate that is more than 735
	893	+	four per cent greater than the rate in effect for the facility on September 736
	894	+	30, 2006, except for any facility that would have been issued a lower rate 737
	895	+	effective October 1, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with 738
	896	+	the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective October 1, 2006. 739
	897	+	For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2011, rates in effect 740
	898	+	for the period ending June 30, 2009, shall remain in effect until June 30, 741
	899	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	900	+
	901	+
	902	+
	903	+	LCO No. 4290 24 of 38
	904	+
	905	+	2011, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate for 742
	906	+	the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, or the fiscal year ending June 30, 743
	907	+	2011, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall 744
	908	+	be issued such lower rate, except (A) any facility that would have been 745
	909	+	issued a lower rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, or the fiscal 746
	910	+	year ending June 30, 2011, due to interim rate status or agreement with 747
	911	+	the Commissioner of Social Services shall be issued such lower rate; and 748
	912	+	(B) the commissioner may increase a facility's rate for reasonable costs 749
	913	+	associated with such facility's compliance with the provisions of section 750
	914	+	19a-495a concerning the administration of medication by unlicensed 751
	915	+	personnel. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, rates in effect for the 752
	916	+	period ending June 30, 2011, shall remain in effect until June 30, 2012, 753
	917	+	except that (i) any facility that would have been issued a lower rate for 754
	918	+	the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, due to interim rate status or 755
	919	+	agreement with the Commissioner of Social Services shall be issued 756
	920	+	such lower rate; and (ii) the commissioner may increase a facility's rate 757
	921	+	for reasonable costs associated with such facility's compliance with the 758
	922	+	provisions of section 19a-495a concerning the administration of 759
	923	+	medication by unlicensed personnel. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 760
	924	+	2013, the Commissioner of Social Services may, within available 761
	925	+	appropriations, provide a rate increase to a residential care home. Any 762
	926	+	facility that would have been issued a lower rate for the fiscal year 763
	927	+	ending June 30, 2013, due to interim rate status or agreement with the 764
	928	+	Commissioner of Social Services shall be issued such lower rate. For the 765
	929	+	fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2013, the Commissioner 766
	930	+	of Social Services may provide fair rent increases to any facility that has 767
	931	+	undergone a material change in circumstances related to fair rent and 768
	932	+	has an approved certificate of need pursuant to section 17b-352, 17b-353, 769
	933	+	17b-354 or 17b-355. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2014, and June 770
	934	+	30, 2015, for those facilities that have a calculated rate greater than the 771
	935	+	rate in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, the commissioner 772
	936	+	may increase facility rates based upon available appropriations up to a 773
	937	+	stop gain as determined by the commissioner. No facility shall be issued 774
	938	+	a rate that is lower than the rate in effect on June 30, 2013, except that 775
	939	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	940	+
	941	+
	942	+
	943	+	LCO No. 4290 25 of 38
	944	+
	945	+	any facility that would have been issued a lower rate for the fiscal year 776
	946	+	ending June 30, 2014, or the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, due to 777
	947	+	interim rate status or agreement with the commissioner, shall be issued 778
	948	+	such lower rate. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, and each fiscal 779
	949	+	year thereafter, a residential care home shall receive a rate increase for 780
	950	+	any capital improvement made during the fiscal year for the health and 781
	951	+	safety of residents and approved by the Department of Social Services, 782
	952	+	provided such rate increase is within available appropriations. For the 783
	953	+	fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, and each succeeding fiscal year 784
	954	+	thereafter, costs of less than ten thousand dollars that are incurred by a 785
	955	+	facility and are associated with any land, building or nonmovable 786
	956	+	equipment repair or improvement that are reported in the cost year used 787
	957	+	to establish the facility's rate shall not be capitalized for a period of more 788
	958	+	than five years for rate-setting purposes. For the fiscal year ending June 789
	959	+	30, 2015, subject to available appropriations, the commissioner may, at 790
	960	+	the commissioner's discretion: Increase the inflation cost limitation 791
	961	+	under subsection (c) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of 792
	962	+	Connecticut state agencies, provided such inflation allowance factor 793
	963	+	does not exceed a maximum of five per cent; establish a minimum rate 794
	964	+	of return applied to real property of five per cent inclusive of assets 795
	965	+	placed in service during cost year 2013; waive the standard rate of return 796
	966	+	under subsection (f) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of 797
	967	+	Connecticut state agencies for ownership changes or health and safety 798
	968	+	improvements that exceed one hundred thousand dollars and that are 799
	969	+	required under a consent order from the Department of Public Health; 800
	970	+	and waive the rate of return adjustment under subsection (f) of section 801
	971	+	17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies to avoid 802
	972	+	financial hardship. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, and June 803
	973	+	30, 2017, rates shall not exceed those in effect for the period ending June 804
	974	+	30, 2015, except the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion 805
	975	+	and within available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases 806
	976	+	to facilities which have documented fair rent additions placed in service 807
	977	+	in cost report years ending September 30, 2014, and September 30, 2015, 808
	978	+	that are not otherwise included in rates issued. For the fiscal years 809
	979	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	980	+
	981	+
	982	+
	983	+	LCO No. 4290 26 of 38
	984	+
	985	+	ending June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017, and each succeeding fiscal year, 810
	986	+	any facility that would have been issued a lower rate, due to interim rate 811
	987	+	status, a change in allowable fair rent or agreement with the department, 812
	988	+	shall be issued such lower rate. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, 813
	989	+	rates shall not exceed those in effect for the period ending June 30, 2017, 814
	990	+	except the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and 815
	991	+	within available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to 816
	992	+	facilities which have documented fair rent additions placed in service in 817
	993	+	the cost report year ending September 30, 2016, that are not otherwise 818
	994	+	included in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, rates 819
	995	+	shall not exceed those in effect for the period ending June 30, 2018, 820
	996	+	except the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and 821
	997	+	within available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to 822
	998	+	facilities which have documented fair rent additions placed in service in 823
	999	+	the cost report year ending September 30, 2017, that are not otherwise 824
	1000	+	included in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, rates 825
	1001	+	shall not exceed those in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, 826
	1002	+	except the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and 827
	1003	+	within available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to 828
	1004	+	facilities which have documented fair rent additions placed in service in 829
	1005	+	the cost report year ending September 30, 2018, that are not otherwise 830
	1006	+	included in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, rates 831
	1007	+	shall not exceed those in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, 832
	1008	+	except the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and 833
	1009	+	within available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to 834
	1010	+	facilities which have documented fair rent additions placed in service in 835
	1011	+	the cost report year ending September 30, 2019, that are not otherwise 836
	1012	+	included in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, the 837
	1013	+	commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and within 838
	1014	+	available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to facilities 839
	1015	+	that have documented fair rent additions placed in service in the cost 840
	1016	+	report year ending September 30, 2020, that are not otherwise included 841
	1017	+	in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the 842
	1018	+	commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and within 843
	1019	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1020	+
	1021	+
	1022	+
	1023	+	LCO No. 4290 27 of 38
	1024	+
	1025	+	available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to facilities 844
	1026	+	which have documented fair rent additions placed in service in the cost 845
	1027	+	report year ending September 30, 2021, that are not otherwise included 846
	1028	+	in rates issued. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 847
	1029	+	2023, a facility may receive a rate increase for a capital improvement 848
	1030	+	approved by the Department of Social Services, for the health or safety 849
	1031	+	of the residents during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, or June 30, 850
	1032	+	2023, only to the extent such rate increases are within available 851
	1033	+	appropriations. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 852
	1034	+	2023, rates shall be based upon rates in effect for the fiscal year ending 853
	1035	+	June 30, 2021, inflated by the gross domestic product deflator applicable 854
	1036	+	to each rate year, except the commissioner may, in the commissioner's 855
	1037	+	discretion and within available appropriations, provide pro rata fair 856
	1038	+	rent increases to facilities which have documented fair rent additions 857
	1039	+	placed in service in the cost report years ending September 30, 2020, and 858
	1040	+	September 30, 2021, that are not otherwise included in rates issued. For 859
	1041	+	the fiscal years ending June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025, a facility may 860
	1042	+	receive a rate increase for a capital improvement approved by the 861
	1043	+	Department of Social Services, for the health or safety of the residents 862
	1044	+	during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, or June 30, 2025, only to the 863
	1045	+	extent such rate increases are within available appropriations. For the 864
	1046	+	fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, the department shall determine facility 865
	1047	+	rates based upon 2022 cost report filings subject to the provisions of this 866
	1048	+	section, adjusted to reflect any rate increases provided after the cost 867
	1049	+	report year ending September 30, 2022. There shall be no increase to 868
	1050	+	rates based on any inflationary factor for the fiscal year ending June 30, 869
	1051	+	2024. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, a 870
	1052	+	facility may receive a rate increase for a capital improvement approved 871
	1053	+	by the Department of Social Services, for the health or safety of the 872
	1054	+	residents during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, or June 30, 2027, 873
	1055	+	only to the extent such rate increases are within available 874
	1056	+	appropriations. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the department 875
	1057	+	shall determine facility rates based upon 2024 cost report filings subject 876
	1058	+	to the provisions of this section, adjusted to reflect any rate increases 877
	1059	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1060	+
	1061	+
	1062	+
	1063	+	LCO No. 4290 28 of 38
	1064	+
	1065	+	provided after the cost report year ending September 30, 2024. For the 878
	1066	+	fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the department shall determine facility 879
	1067	+	rates based upon 2025 cost report filings subject to the provisions of this 880
	1068	+	section, adjusted to reflect any rate increases provided after the cost 881
	1069	+	report year ending September 30, 2025. There shall be no increase to 882
	1070	+	rates based on any inflationary factor for the fiscal years ending June 30, 883
	1071	+	2026, and June 30, 2027. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this 884
	1072	+	chapter, any subsequent increase to allowable operating costs, 885
	1073	+	excluding fair rent, shall be inflated by the gross domestic product 886
	1074	+	deflator when funding is specifically appropriated for such purposes in 887
	1075	+	the enacted budget. The rate of inflation shall be computed by 888
	1076	+	comparing the most recent rate year to the average of the gross domestic 889
	1077	+	product deflator for the previous four fiscal quarters ending March 890
	1078	+	thirty-first. Any increase to rates based on inflation shall be applied 891
	1079	+	prior to the application of any other budget adjustment factors that may 892
	1080	+	impact such rates. The commissioner shall determine whether and to 893
	1081	+	what extent a change in ownership of a facility shall occasion the 894
	1082	+	rebasing of the facility's costs. There shall be no inflation adjustment 895
	1083	+	during a year in which a facility's rates are rebased. For the fiscal year 896
	1084	+	ending June 30, 2024, the commissioner may, in the commissioner's 897
	1085	+	discretion and within available appropriations, provide pro rata fair 898
	1086	+	rent increases to facilities that have documented fair rent additions 899
	1087	+	placed in service in the cost report year ending September 30, 2022, that 900
	1088	+	are not otherwise included in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending 901
	1089	+	June 30, 2025, the commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion 902
	1090	+	and within available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases 903
	1091	+	to facilities that have documented fair rent additions placed in service 904
	1092	+	in the cost report year ending September 30, 2023, that are not otherwise 905
	1093	+	included in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, the 906
	1094	+	commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and within 907
	1095	+	available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to facilities 908
	1096	+	that have documented fair rent additions placed in service in the cost 909
	1097	+	report year ending September 30, 2024, that are not otherwise included 910
	1098	+	in rates issued. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, the 911
	1099	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1100	+
	1101	+
	1102	+
	1103	+	LCO No. 4290 29 of 38
	1104	+
	1105	+	commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion and within 912
	1106	+	available appropriations, provide pro rata fair rent increases to facilities 913
	1107	+	that have documented fair rent additions placed in service in the cost 914
	1108	+	report year ending September 30, 2025, that are not otherwise included 915
	1109	+	in rates issued. 916
	1110	+	Sec. 11. Subdivision (9) of subsection (a) of section 17b-340d of the 917
	1111	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 918
	1112	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 919
	1113	+	(9) On and after July 1, 2025, costs shall be rebased no more frequently 920
	1114	+	than every two years and no less frequently than every four years, as 921
	1115	+	determined by the commissioner. There shall be no inflation adjustment 922
	1116	+	during a year in which a facility's rates are rebased. The commissioner 923
	1117	+	shall determine whether and to what extent a change in ownership of a 924
	1118	+	facility shall occasion the rebasing of the facility's costs. There shall be 925
	1119	+	no rebasing for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027. 926
	1120	+	Sec. 12. Subdivision (11) of subsection (a) of section 17b-340d of the 927
	1121	+	general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 928
	1122	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 929
	1123	+	(11) There shall be no increase to rates based on inflation or any 930
	1124	+	inflationary factor for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 931
	1125	+	2023, unless otherwise authorized under subdivision (1) of this 932
	1126	+	subsection. Notwithstanding section 17-311-52 of the regulations of 933
	1127	+	Connecticut state agencies, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2024, 934
	1128	+	[and] June 30, 2025, June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, there shall be no 935
	1129	+	inflationary increases to rates beyond those already factored into the 936
	1130	+	model for the transition to an acuity-based reimbursement system. 937
	1131	+	Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any subsequent 938
	1132	+	increase to allowable operating costs, excluding fair rent, shall be 939
	1133	+	inflated by the gross domestic product deflator when funding is 940
	1134	+	specifically appropriated for such purposes in the enacted budget. The 941
	1135	+	rate of inflation shall be computed by comparing the most recent rate 942
	1136	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1137	+
	1138	+
	1139	+
	1140	+	LCO No. 4290 30 of 38
	1141	+
	1142	+	year to the average of the gross domestic product deflator for the 943
	1143	+	previous four fiscal quarters ending March thirty-first. Any increase to 944
	1144	+	rates based on inflation shall be applied prior to the application of any 945
	1145	+	other budget adjustment factors that may impact such rates. 946
	1146	+	Sec. 13. Subsection (i) of section 17b-342 of the general statutes is 947
	1147	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 948
	1148	+	2025): 949
	1149	+	(i) (1) The Commissioner of Social Services shall, within available 950
	1150	+	appropriations, administer a state-funded portion of the Connecticut 951
	1151	+	home-care program for the elderly for persons (A) who are sixty-five 952
	1152	+	years of age and older and are not eligible for Medicaid; (B) who are 953
	1153	+	inappropriately institutionalized or at risk of inappropriate 954
	1154	+	institutionalization; (C) whose income is less than or equal to the 955
	1155	+	amount allowed for a person who would be eligible for medical 956
	1156	+	assistance if residing in a nursing facility; and (D) whose assets, if single, 957
	1157	+	do not exceed one hundred fifty per cent of the federal minimum 958
	1158	+	community spouse protected amount pursuant to 42 USC 1396r-5(f)(2) 959
	1159	+	or, if married, the couple's assets do not exceed two hundred per cent of 960
	1160	+	said community spouse protected amount. For program applications 961
	1161	+	received by the Department of Social Services for the fiscal years ending 962
	1162	+	June 30, 2016, and June 30, 2017, only persons who require the level of 963
	1163	+	care provided in a nursing home shall be eligible for the state-funded 964
	1164	+	portion of the program, except for persons residing in affordable 965
	1165	+	housing under the assisted living demonstration project established 966
	1166	+	pursuant to section 17b-347e who are otherwise eligible in accordance 967
	1167	+	with this section. 968
	1168	+	(2) Except for persons residing in affordable housing under the 969
	1169	+	assisted living demonstration project established pursuant to section 970
	1170	+	17b-347e, as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, any person 971
	1171	+	whose income is at or below two hundred per cent of the federal poverty 972
	1172	+	level and who is ineligible for Medicaid shall contribute [three] five per 973
	1173	+	cent of the cost of his or her care not to exceed a cap of one hundred 974
	1174	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1175	+
	1176	+
	1177	+
	1178	+	LCO No. 4290 31 of 38
	1179	+
	1180	+	seventy-five dollars per month for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. 975
	1181	+	On July 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, said cap shall be indexed 976
	1182	+	annually based on the percentage increase in the most recent calendar 977
	1183	+	year average in the consumer price index for urban consumers over the 978
	1184	+	average for the previous calendar year. Any person whose income 979
	1185	+	exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level shall 980
	1186	+	contribute [three] five per cent of the cost of his or her care not to exceed 981
	1187	+	said cap in addition to the amount of applied income determined in 982
	1188	+	accordance with the methodology established by the Department of 983
	1189	+	Social Services for recipients of medical assistance. Any person who 984
	1190	+	does not contribute to the cost of care in accordance with this 985
	1191	+	subdivision shall be ineligible to receive services under this subsection. 986
	1192	+	Notwithstanding any provision of sections 17b-60 and 17b-61, the 987
	1193	+	department shall not be required to provide an administrative hearing 988
	1194	+	to a person found ineligible for services under this subsection because 989
	1195	+	of a failure to contribute to the cost of care. 990
	1196	+	(3) Any person who resides in affordable housing under the assisted 991
	1197	+	living demonstration project established pursuant to section 17b-347e 992
	1198	+	and whose income is at or below two hundred per cent of the federal 993
	1199	+	poverty level, shall not be required to contribute to the cost of care. Any 994
	1200	+	person who resides in affordable housing under the assisted living 995
	1201	+	demonstration project established pursuant to section 17b-347e and 996
	1202	+	whose income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty 997
	1203	+	level, shall contribute to the applied income amount determined in 998
	1204	+	accordance with the methodology established by the Department of 999
	1205	+	Social Services for recipients of medical assistance. Any person whose 1000
	1206	+	income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level and 1001
	1207	+	who does not contribute to the cost of care in accordance with this 1002
	1208	+	subdivision shall be ineligible to receive services under this subsection. 1003
	1209	+	Notwithstanding any provision of sections 17b-60 and 17b-61, the 1004
	1210	+	department shall not be required to provide an administrative hearing 1005
	1211	+	to a person found ineligible for services under this subsection because 1006
	1212	+	of a failure to contribute to the cost of care. 1007
	1213	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1214	+
	1215	+
	1216	+
	1217	+	LCO No. 4290 32 of 38
	1218	+
	1219	+	(4) The annualized cost of services provided to an individual under 1008
	1220	+	the state-funded portion of the program shall not exceed fifty per cent 1009
	1221	+	of the weighted average cost of care in nursing homes in the state, except 1010
	1222	+	an individual who received services costing in excess of such amount 1011
	1223	+	under the Department of Social Services in the fiscal year ending June 1012
	1224	+	30, 1992, may continue to receive such services, provided the annualized 1013
	1225	+	cost of such services does not exceed eighty per cent of the weighted 1014
	1226	+	average cost of such nursing home care. The commissioner may allow 1015
	1227	+	the cost of services provided to an individual to exceed the maximum 1016
	1228	+	cost established pursuant to this subdivision in a case of extreme 1017
	1229	+	hardship, as determined by the commissioner, provided in no case shall 1018
	1230	+	such cost exceed that of the weighted cost of such nursing home care. 1019
	1231	+	Sec. 14. Section 17b-597 of the general statutes, as amended by section 1020
	1232	+	64 of public act 24-81, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1021
	1233	+	thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1022
	1234	+	(a) The Department of Social Services shall establish and implement 1023
	1235	+	a working persons with disabilities program to provide medical 1024
	1236	+	assistance as authorized under 42 USC 1396a(a)(10)(A)(ii), as amended 1025
	1237	+	from time to time, to persons who are disabled and regularly employed. 1026
	1238	+	(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall amend the Medicaid 1027
	1239	+	state plan to allow persons specified in subsection (a) of this section to 1028
	1240	+	qualify for medical assistance. The amendment shall include the 1029
	1241	+	following requirements: (1) That the person be engaged in a substantial 1030
	1242	+	and reasonable work effort as determined by the commissioner and as 1031
	1243	+	permitted by federal law and have an annual adjusted gross income, as 1032
	1244	+	defined in Section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 1033
	1245	+	subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 1034
	1246	+	as amended from time to time, of not more than eighty-five thousand 1035
	1247	+	dollars per year; (2) a disregard of all countable income up to two 1036
	1248	+	hundred per cent of the federal poverty level; (3) for an unmarried 1037
	1249	+	person, an asset limit of twenty thousand dollars, and for a married 1038
	1250	+	couple, an asset limit of thirty thousand dollars; (4) a disregard of any 1039
	1251	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1252	+
	1253	+
	1254	+
	1255	+	LCO No. 4290 33 of 38
	1256	+
	1257	+	retirement and medical savings accounts established pursuant to 26 1040
	1258	+	USC 220 and held by either the person or the person's spouse; (5) a 1041
	1259	+	disregard of any moneys in accounts designated by the person or the 1042
	1260	+	person's spouse for the purpose of purchasing goods or services that 1043
	1261	+	will increase the employability of such person, subject to approval by 1044
	1262	+	the commissioner; (6) a disregard of spousal income solely for purposes 1045
	1263	+	of determination of eligibility; and (7) a contribution of any countable 1046
	1264	+	income of the person or the person's spouse which exceeds two hundred 1047
	1265	+	per cent of the federal poverty level, as adjusted for the appropriate 1048
	1266	+	family size, equal to ten per cent of the excess minus any premiums paid 1049
	1267	+	from income for health insurance by any family member, but which 1050
	1268	+	does not exceed the maximum contribution allowable under Section 1051
	1269	+	201(a)(3) of Public Law 106-170, as amended from time to time. 1052
	1270	+	[(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, 1053
	1271	+	on and after July 1, 2026, the commissioner shall phase in the elimination 1054
	1272	+	of income and asset limits for a participant in the program over four 1055
	1273	+	fiscal years by annually increasing (1) the income limit prescribed in 1056
	1274	+	subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section by ten thousand dollars, 1057
	1275	+	and (2) the asset limit prescribed in subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of 1058
	1276	+	this section by ten thousand dollars for an unmarried person and fifteen 1059
	1277	+	thousand dollars for a married couple. On and after July 1, 2029, there 1060
	1278	+	shall be no income or asset limit for eligibility for the program.] 1061
	1279	+	[(d)] (c) The Commissioner of Social Services shall implement the 1062
	1280	+	policies and procedures necessary to carry out the provisions of this 1063
	1281	+	section while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in 1064
	1282	+	regulation form, provided notice of intent to adopt the regulations is 1065
	1283	+	posted on the eRegulations System in accordance with section 17b-10. 1066
	1284	+	The commissioner shall define "countable income" for purposes of 1067
	1285	+	subsection (b) of this section which shall take into account impairment-1068
	1286	+	related work expenses as defined in the Social Security Act. Such 1069
	1287	+	policies and procedures shall be valid until the time final regulations are 1070
	1288	+	effective. 1071
	1289	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1290	+
	1291	+
	1292	+
	1293	+	LCO No. 4290 34 of 38
	1294	+
	1295	+	Sec. 15. Section 19a-634 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1072
	1296	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1073
	1297	+	(a) [The] On or before June 30, 2029, and every five years thereafter, 1074
	1298	+	the Health Systems Planning Unit shall conduct, [on a biennial basis] 1075
	1299	+	within available appropriations, a state-wide health care facility 1076
	1300	+	utilization study. Such study may include an assessment of: (1) Current 1077
	1301	+	availability and utilization of acute hospital care, hospital emergency 1078
	1302	+	care, specialty hospital care, outpatient surgical care, primary care and 1079
	1303	+	clinic care; (2) geographic areas and subpopulations that may be 1080
	1304	+	underserved or have reduced access to specific types of health care 1081
	1305	+	services; and (3) other factors that the unit deems pertinent to health care 1082
	1306	+	facility utilization. Not later than June thirtieth of the year in which the 1083
	1307	+	[biennial] quinquennial study is conducted, the Commissioner of 1084
	1308	+	Health Strategy shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the 1085
	1309	+	Governor and the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 1086
	1310	+	having cognizance of matters relating to public health and human 1087
	1311	+	services on the findings of the study. Such report may also include the 1088
	1312	+	unit's recommendations for addressing identified gaps in the provision 1089
	1313	+	of health care services and recommendations concerning a lack of access 1090
	1314	+	to health care services. 1091
	1315	+	(b) The unit, in consultation with such other state agencies as the 1092
	1316	+	commissioner deems appropriate, shall establish and maintain a state-1093
	1317	+	wide health care facilities and services plan. Such plan may include, but 1094
	1318	+	not be limited to: (1) An assessment of the availability of acute hospital 1095
	1319	+	care, hospital emergency care, specialty hospital care, outpatient 1096
	1320	+	surgical care, primary care and clinic care; (2) an evaluation of the unmet 1097
	1321	+	needs of persons at risk and vulnerable populations as determined by 1098
	1322	+	the commissioner; (3) a projection of future demand for health care 1099
	1323	+	services and the impact that technology may have on the demand, 1100
	1324	+	capacity or need for such services; and (4) recommendations for the 1101
	1325	+	expansion, reduction or modification of health care facilities or services. 1102
	1326	+	In the development of the plan, the unit shall consider the 1103
	1327	+	recommendations of any advisory bodies which may be established by 1104
	1328	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1329	+
	1330	+
	1331	+
	1332	+	LCO No. 4290 35 of 38
	1333	+
	1334	+	the commissioner. The commissioner may also incorporate the 1105
	1335	+	recommendations of authoritative organizations whose mission is to 1106
	1336	+	promote policies based on best practices or evidence-based research. 1107
	1337	+	The commissioner, in consultation with hospital representatives, shall 1108
	1338	+	develop a process that encourages hospitals to incorporate the state-1109
	1339	+	wide health care facilities and services plan into hospital long-range 1110
	1340	+	planning and shall facilitate communication between appropriate state 1111
	1341	+	agencies concerning innovations or changes that may affect future 1112
	1342	+	health planning. The unit shall update the state-wide health care 1113
	1343	+	facilities and services plan not less than once every [two] five years. 1114
	1344	+	(c) For purposes of conducting the state-wide health care facility 1115
	1345	+	utilization study and preparing the state-wide health care facilities and 1116
	1346	+	services plan, the unit shall establish and maintain an inventory of all 1117
	1347	+	health care facilities, the equipment identified in subdivisions (9) and 1118
	1348	+	(10) of subsection (a) of section 19a-638, and services in the state, 1119
	1349	+	including health care facilities that are exempt from certificate of need 1120
	1350	+	requirements under subsection (b) of section 19a-638. The unit shall 1121
	1351	+	develop an inventory questionnaire to obtain the following information: 1122
	1352	+	(1) The name and location of the facility; (2) the type of facility; (3) the 1123
	1353	+	hours of operation; (4) the type of services provided at that location; and 1124
	1354	+	(5) the total number of clients, treatments, patient visits, procedures 1125
	1355	+	performed or scans performed in a calendar year. The inventory shall 1126
	1356	+	be completed [biennially] every five years by health care facilities and 1127
	1357	+	providers and such health care facilities and providers shall not be 1128
	1358	+	required to provide patient specific or financial data. 1129
	1359	+	Sec. 16. Subsection (a) of section 38a-1060 of the general statutes is 1130
	1360	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1131
	1361	+	2025): 1132
	1362	+	(a) There is established an Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate 1133
	1363	+	which shall be within the [Insurance Department for administrative 1134
	1364	+	purposes only] Office of the Healthcare Advocate. 1135
	1365	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1366	+
	1367	+
	1368	+
	1369	+	LCO No. 4290 36 of 38
	1370	+
	1371	+	Sec. 17. Section 38a-1061 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1136
	1372	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 1137
	1373	+	(a) [The Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate shall be under the 1138
	1374	+	direction of the Behavioral Health Advocate who shall be appointed by 1139
	1375	+	the Governor, with the approval of the General Assembly.] The 1140
	1376	+	Behavioral Health Advocate shall be an elector of the state with 1141
	1377	+	expertise and experience in the fields of mental or behavioral health 1142
	1378	+	care, health insurance and advocacy for parity in mental and behavioral 1143
	1379	+	health access and outcomes. [In addition to the Behavioral Health 1144
	1380	+	Advocate, the Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate shall consist of 1145
	1381	+	sufficient staff as the requirements and resources of the office permit, of 1146
	1382	+	whom at least one shall be an attorney and at least one shall be a patient 1147
	1383	+	care navigator.] 1148
	1384	+	(b) The Governor shall make the initial appointment of the Behavioral 1149
	1385	+	Health Advocate from a list of candidates prepared and submitted, not 1150
	1386	+	later than February 1, 2024, to the Governor by the advisory committee 1151
	1387	+	established pursuant to section 38a-1062. The Governor shall notify the 1152
	1388	+	advisory committee of the pending expiration of the term of an 1153
	1389	+	incumbent Behavioral Health Advocate not less than ninety days prior 1154
	1390	+	to the final day of the Behavioral Health Advocate's term in office. If a 1155
	1391	+	vacancy occurs in the position of Behavioral Health Advocate, the 1156
	1392	+	Governor shall notify the advisory committee immediately of the 1157
	1393	+	vacancy. The advisory committee shall meet to consider qualified 1158
	1394	+	candidates for the position of Behavioral Health Advocate and shall 1159
	1395	+	submit a list of not more than five candidates to the Governor ranked in 1160
	1396	+	order of preference, not more than sixty days after receiving notice from 1161
	1397	+	the Governor of the pending expiration of the Behavioral Health 1162
	1398	+	Advocate's term or the occurrence of a vacancy. The Governor shall 1163
	1399	+	designate, not more than sixty days after receipt of the list of candidates 1164
	1400	+	from the advisory committee, one candidate from the list for the position 1165
	1401	+	of Behavioral Health Advocate. If, after the list is submitted to the 1166
	1402	+	Governor by the advisory committee, any candidate withdraws from 1167
	1403	+	consideration, the Governor shall designate a candidate from those 1168
	1404	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1405	+
	1406	+
	1407	+
	1408	+	LCO No. 4290 37 of 38
	1409	+
	1410	+	remaining on the list. If the Governor fails to designate a candidate 1169
	1411	+	within sixty days of receipt of the list from the advisory committee, the 1170
	1412	+	advisory committee shall refer the candidate with the highest ranking 1171
	1413	+	on the list to the General Assembly for confirmation. If the General 1172
	1414	+	Assembly is not in session at the time of the [Governor's or] advisory 1173
	1415	+	committee's designation of a candidate, the candidate shall serve as the 1174
	1416	+	acting Behavioral Health Advocate until the General Assembly meets 1175
	1417	+	and confirms the candidate as Behavioral Health Advocate. A candidate 1176
	1418	+	serving as acting Behavioral Health Advocate is entitled to 1177
	1419	+	compensation and has all the powers, duties and privileges of the 1178
	1420	+	Behavioral Health Advocate. A Behavioral Health Advocate shall serve 1179
	1421	+	a term of four years, not including any time served as acting Behavioral 1180
	1422	+	Health Advocate, and may be reappointed by the Governor or shall 1181
	1423	+	remain in the position until a successor is confirmed. Although an 1182
	1424	+	incumbent Behavioral Health Advocate may be reappointed, the 1183
	1425	+	Governor shall also consider additional candidates from a list submitted 1184
	1426	+	by the advisory committee as provided in this section. 1185
	1427	+	[(c) Upon a vacancy in the position of the Behavioral Health 1186
	1428	+	Advocate, the most senior attorney in the Office of the Behavioral 1187
	1429	+	Health Advocate shall serve as the acting Behavioral Health Advocate 1188
	1430	+	until the vacancy is filled pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section. 1189
	1431	+	The acting Behavioral Health Advocate has all the powers, duties and 1190
	1432	+	privileges of the Behavioral Health Advocate.] 1191
	1433	+	Sec. 18. Subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 4-28f of the general 1192
	1434	+	statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1193
	1435	+	(Effective July 1, 2025): 1194
	1436	+	(3) After such recommendations for the authorization of 1195
	1437	+	disbursement have been approved or modified pursuant to subdivision 1196
	1438	+	(2) of this subsection, any modification in the amount of an authorized 1197
	1439	+	disbursement in excess of [fifty] one hundred seventy-five thousand 1198
	1440	+	dollars [or ten per cent of the authorized amount, whichever is less,] 1199
	1441	+	shall be submitted to said joint standing committees and approved, 1200
	1442	+	Governor's Bill No. 1251
	1443	+
	1444	+
	1445	+
	1446	+	LCO No. 4290 38 of 38
	1447	+
	1448	+	modified or rejected in accordance with the procedure set forth in 1201
	1449	+	subdivision (2) of this subsection. Notification of all disbursements from 1202
	1450	+	the trust fund made pursuant to this section shall be sent to the joint 1203
	1451	+	standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 1204
	1452	+	matters relating to public health and appropriations and the budgets of 1205
	1453	+	state agencies, through the Office of Fiscal Analysis. 1206
103	1454		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
104	1455		sections:
105	1456
106	1457		Section 1 July 1, 2025 14-11b
107		-	Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 17b-8(e)
108		-	Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
109		-	Sec. 4 November 1, 2025 New section Substitute Bill No. 1251
	1458	+	Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 17b-104(b)
	1459	+	Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 17b-106(a)
	1460	+	Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 17b-112g(a)
	1461	+	Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 17b-191
	1462	+	Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 17b-278l
	1463	+	Sec. 7 July 1, 2025 17b-244(a)
	1464	+	Sec. 8 July 1, 2025 New section
	1465	+	Sec. 9 July 1, 2025 17b-340(h)(1)
	1466	+	Sec. 10 July 1, 2025 17b-340(i)
	1467	+	Sec. 11 July 1, 2025 17b-340d(a)(9)
	1468	+	Sec. 12 July 1, 2025 17b-340d(a)(11)
	1469	+	Sec. 13 July 1, 2025 17b-342(i)
	1470	+	Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 17b-597
	1471	+	Sec. 15 July 1, 2025 19a-634
	1472	+	Sec. 16 July 1, 2025 38a-1060(a)
	1473	+	Sec. 17 July 1, 2025 38a-1061
	1474	+	Sec. 18 July 1, 2025 4-28f(d)(3)
110	1475
	1476	+	Statement of Purpose:
	1477	+	To implement the Governor's budget recommendations regarding
	1478	+	health and human services.
111	1479
112		-	LCO 4 of 4
113		-
114		-
115		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
116		-	The title was changed; in Section 2(e), "schedule a vote" and "schedule
117		-	such vote" were changed to "schedule a hearing" and "schedule such
118		-	hearing" for consistency with the general statutes, and "it" was changed
119		-	to "the state plan amendment in accordance with subsection (a) of this
120		-	section" for clarity.
121		-
122		-	HS Joint Favorable Subst.
123		-
	1480	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	1481	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	1482	+	underlined.]